The leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage (Reuters/Andrew Yates) / Reuters

The leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) has called for the Electoral Commission to be dissolved, after it emerged the regulator had approved a joke party planning to run against him in the general election.

Upon hearing the Commission had given comedian Al Murray’s spoof
‘Freedom United Kingdom Party’ (FUKP) permission to stand, Nigel
Farage said all the regulator’s employees should lose their jobs.

FUKP describe themselves as the “common sense” party, playing on
UKIP and Nigel Farage’s ‘everyman’ persona, and advocates
humorous policies, such as bricking up the channel tunnel to stop
an influx of immigrants.

Speaking at the UKIP South West Conference, Farage called the
decision a “disgrace.”

“If you add to that the scandal of postal voting fraud, I
want everyone in the Electoral Commission fired and the
organization closed down.”

The decision means Farage will have to compete against the
comedian for the South Thanet seat.

Local supporters of UKIP have reportedly protested against the
joke party, saying that voters may muddle up the two similar
acronyms at polling stations.

The Electoral Commission made the decision on March 4. A
spokesperson said: “I can confirm that Al Murray’s party has
had the name Free United Kingdom Party approved by the Electoral
Commission. We have informed the party of our decision.”

The decision may help silence Murray’s critics, who say his
sudden political interest is merely a publicity stunt.

It was recently revealed Murray has booked a comedy gig in
Dartford on the night of the election.

FUKP released a series of pledges in late 2014, which
deliberately play on the policies of UKIP and the public image of
Nigel Farage, including revaluing a pint of beer at £1.10,
because it’s just “common sense.”

Murray will run against the UKIP leader in the guise of his
satirical alias, ‘the Pub Landlord,’ who is known for his
right-wing patriotic views, often pictured pint in hand, not
unlike Farage himself.

Murray has also pledged to reintroduce national service
specifically for those who don’t want to do it, promised to send
the unemployed to prison because “unemployment causes
crime,” and issued a foreign policy which reads:“Germany
has been too quiet for too long. Just saying.”